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DELIVERED AT EXKTER, 



December 22d, 1820. 



BEING THE SECOND CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAND- 
ING OF THE PILGRIMS OB NEW-ENGLAND. 



By WILLIAM F. I^OWLAND, 

Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Exeter. 



PlTBtlSHED AT TUE UEftUEST OB THE HliABEBe. 



0/ , 

EXETER . 

PlIIiTTBD BT JOHN J. WILI.IAHB 

1S21. 






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*<* ^ 



SERMON. 



Deuteronomy 32, 7. 

r 

REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD, CONSIDER THE YEARS OF MANY GEN- 
ERATIONS : ASK THY FATHER, AND HE^WILL SHOW THEE ; THY ELDERS, 
AND THEY WILL TELL THEE. 

1 retrace the footsteps of providence, — 
to mark the dispensations of the wise and 
mighty Ruler of the universe is a business 
entertaining and useful. To the grateful mind 
nothing can be more agreeable, than to reflect 
upon the display of divine mercy ; for while it 
fills the soul with wonder and admiration, it 
excites to gratitude, praise and love. 

And surely there is nothing, in which the 
pious soul exerts herself with greater fervour, 
than in the exercises of love, of gratitude, of 
thanksgiving to God for all his benefits. Such 
is the dehghtful business in which we are in- 
vited to engage to day. On this second 
centennial anniversary of the landing of the 
fathers of New-England, every friend of God 
may reap peculiar pleasure. The business for 
which we are assembled, is no less agreeable 
to the grateful heart, than it is important to 
every sharer in the unmerited blessings which 
result from the events we commemorate. 



4 

In the progress of this discourse, we shall 
endeavour, 

I. To take a retrospective view of some of 
God's providences to our land ; and, 

II. Show how we should improve them. 

I. We will take a brief retrospect of the su- 
perintending providence of God manifested to 
our land. 

It has been common for the church of God, 
in all ages — after she has passed through try^ 
ing providences, and experienced wondrous 
interpositions, to call to mind his dealings of 
mercy toward his people, and pubUckly ac- 
knowledge his kindness. The recollection of 
past favors, — the recounting of mercies by 
which our fathers and we have been support- 
ed, most directly holds up to view our entire 
dependence, our infinite obligations, and die 
ground of our thanksgiving and praise. 

When Israel had been emancipated from the 
bondage of Egypt, and had passed the perils of 
the Red sea, Moses in a song of praise enume- 
rated the wondrous providences of the Most 
High with respect to them, which so affected 
the hearts of the people, that they joined and 
sung his praise ; but they soon forgot his 
works. In like manner, others reliearscd the 
divine mercies in a song after their deliver- 
ance from the oppression of tlie 0»naanr 



5 

itish Kings. And again, by the appointment 
of God, the song, of which the text is a part, 
was delivered to Israel for a standing admo- 
nition and memorial, and holds up an exam- 
ple worthy of imitation. The Lord's mercies 
to his chosen people were very conspicuous, in 
preserving them, after then- departure out of 
Egypt, in a howling wilderness : — and he taught 
them to keep these things in memory, and 
to teach them to their children from genera- 
tion to generation. " llemember the days of 
old, consider the years of many generations : 
ask thy father, and he will shew thee ; thy el- 
ders and they will tell thee. When the Most 
High divided to the nations their inheritance, 
when he separated the sons of Adam, he set 
the bounds of the people according to the num- 
ber of the children of Israel. Foi* tlie Lord's 
portion is his people ; Jacob is the lot of his 
inheritance. He found him in a desert land, 
and in the waste howling wilderness ; he led 
him about, he instructed him, he kept him as 
the apple of his eye. As an eagle stin^eth up 
her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth 
abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them 
on her wings ; So the Lord alone did lead him, 
and there was no strange god with him. He 
made him ride on the high places of the earth, 
that he might eat the increase of the fields ; 



and lie made him to suck honey out of the 
rock, and oil out of the flinty rock ; Butter of 
kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and 
rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with 
the fat of kidneys of wheat ; and thou didst 
drink the pure blood of the grape." 

The care of divine providence towards the 
people of these States has, in many respects 
been no less conspicuous ! 

In the reign of King James, the first, of Eng- 
land, in the year 1603, a number of pious per- 
sons in the north of England, who were zeal- 
ous for reformation ; opposed to human inven- 
tions in the worship of God ; and ardently 
engaged in attending to the positive and prac- 
tical part of divine institutions, became cordially 
associated to support and conduct the worship, 
and to attend on the ordinances of the glorious 
gospel, according to the primitive pattern. 

Being unable to enjoy their liberties and 
privileges without giving offence, and without 
suffering molestation in their own country, they 
adopted the resolution of removing to the Ne- 
therlands, which, not however without expe- 
riencing some difficulty they accomplished. 
Having arrived with their families in Holland 
they settled in the city of Ley den in 1610 — 
and here enjoyed their liberties. 



Viewing this, however, not the most eligible 
situation for them and their posterity, they, after 
much serious and prayerful deliberation, form- 
ed the resolution of removing to America. This 
bold and daring attempt was attended with such 
manifest dimculties and perils, as nothing, but 
their humble faith in the Redeemer, their ar- 
dent love to his cause, and their affiance in 
Him, could have encouraged them to encounter, 
or carried them successfully through. 

These adventurers set sail August 20, 16S0, 
and anived at Cape Cod on the lith of Novem- 
ber following. 1 heir aim was a more southern 
shore, and a milder climate ; but He, who seeth 
not as man seeth,—whose counsel always stands, 
how different soever the counsels and designs 
of man, drove them by stress of weatlier to the 
rock and refuge which he had provided for 
them. A raging pestilence a little before had 
greatly lessened its native inhabitants. Alter 
reconnoitering the shores they landed on the 
22d of December, at the place which, after the. 
name of the company under whose patronage 
they came, they called Plymouth. 

Here pause a moment, and view those pil- 
grims. Contemplate their compassionable sit- 
uation ! See them in a wild, inhospitable wil- 
derness ! Without friends,— surrounded by sav- 
age beasts and savage men!— in this inclement 



season without a house to shelter them ; without 
a fortress to secure them ; without provision to 
reheve the returns of hunger — few in number, 
and strangers in a strange land ! Of this small 
number, consisting of about an hundred, one half 
died before the opening of the spring. Doubtless 
the hardships they were called to endure 
the difficulties which they had to encounter, 
the causes by which their number was man 
awfully diminished. Several more, perhaps all, 

ust have perished, had not the Lord made 
vision for them, by giving them the fish of 
^,a, and the treasures hid in the sand. How 
Ci prey would they have been to the nu- 

me ^.nemies that surrounded them, had not 

the '^al interposition of providence prevent- 
ed, itching over them by day and by night, 
ar straining the wrath of beasts and men. 
^ r the guidance, protection, and conduct of 
jder providence, they neither perished by 
line, nor were destroyed by the bow, nor 

.e sword of the wilderness ! Their wants 
♦vere supphed from the inexhaustible treasury 
of the Lord, and their persons were protect- 
ed by his Almighty arm. He, in whose hands 
are the hearts of all, made the natives of the 
woods at peace with them, and several of their 
chiefs sought their friendship and protection ! 
Such were the fathers of our country ; — such 



9 

the beginning of New-England ! " Remember 
the days of old, consider the years of many 
generations : ask thy father, and he will show 
thee ; thy elders, and they will tell thee." 

Is the hand of the Lord to be seen in the 
emancipation of Israel from oppression and 
bondage ; — in conducting them through the 
sea ; in protecting them in the wilderness ; in 
guiding them by the pillar of the cloud by day, 
and by the pillar of fire by night ; in settling 
them in the land of Canaan, and driving out 
the heathen before them ? In the care of Prov- 
idence towards the fathers of New-England, 
can you trace no resemblance ? Like Israel, 
our fathers came to this land, relying on God 
for support and protection. Here they were 
surrounded with perils, and beset by snares and 
death on every side ! Bhnd indeed must those 
be, who cannot see the signal interposition of 
providence, in preserving so small a band, from 
the numerous perils which they had to encoun- 
ter ; particularly in restraining the wrath and 
hi diminishing the number of their enemies. 
Never a people so speedily dwindled away 
vdthout greater apparent cause ! 

The goodness of God is to be acknowledged 

ill the remarkable increase of this people. It 

was said of Israel, a people favoured as no 

other nation had been, that they multiplied 

2 






10 
exceedingly ! It however appears, that in this 
respect, we have been more distinguished ! In 
four hundred and thirty years they amounted 
to about three milUons of souls. This people 
amount on calculation to more than three times 
that number, in less than half that time. Many 
have been the mercies of the Lord to this land 
since its first settlement — too many to be men- 
tioned, were 1 able distinctly to recount them. 
Follow the counsel in the text, and surely you 
cannot fail to find abundant cause for grati- 
tude. — "Remember the days of old, consider 
the years of many generations : ask thy father 
and he will show thee ; thy elders, and they 
will tell thee." 

That we are a free, independent people is 
not the effect of blind chance, — nor to be as- 
cribed to our wisdom and strength — nor yet to 
extraordinary publick spirit, the want of which 
has been a source of many embarrassments, and 
frequently threatened our destruction. Surely 
the Most High rules in the Kingdoms of men. 

In the revolutionary contest, we were wholly 
unprepared to enter a controversy with the pa- 
rent country ; being without arms, without am- 
munition, without money, without any regular 
discipline. Our sea coast, in its vast extent, 
altogether destitute of defence by fortresses 
and by fleets ; our frontiers naked to the inva- 



11 

sion of every foe ! In this situation what had 
this country, but the goodness of providence on 
which to place any rehance ? On the other part, 
they were prepared with every apparatus for 
warfare ; — experienced generals — a most pow- 
erful navy that had rode triumphant on the 
ocean ; ships to transport them to any part of 
the continent, or receive them at pleasure from 
our reach, whenever their enterprises by land 
proved unsuccessful. Had not the Lord been 
on our side, and espoused the cause of this in- 
jured and distressed nation she must have fallen 
a prey to her enemies. 

But I need not adduce arguments, nor be 
very particular in detailing the occun'ences of 
providence, to convince you, that the favours of 
God towards the people of this land have been, 
and continue to be, unspeakably great. I need 
only to entreat you to reflect on your happy 
experience ; to ask thy father and thy elders ; 
to run over tlie memorable events, which fill 
the pages of our history, and the proof of the 
fact will be forced on you in all its irresistible 
demonstration. " Remember the days of old, 
consider the years of many generations : ask 
thy father, and he will show thee ; thy elders, 
and they will tell thee. 

And surely all, who are not infidels, nor skep. 
ticks, must perceive and acknowledge, that our 



1^ 

lot has been disposed of, in every instance, by 
our most wise, powerful and gracious Creator 
and Redeenier. How obvious to the weakest 
understanding, are the footsteps of mercy, in 
those events, which contributed to provide an 
asylum in these western wilds for our oppress- 
ed and pious ancestors ? What but the propi- 
tious smiles ,* what but the encouraging and 
helping hand of the Almighty, could embolden 
them to encounter the dangers of the seas in a 
leaky bark, and the still more hazardous enter- 
prise ofeffecting an establishment here ? What 
but the same hand defended them from their 
barbarous foes, and drove them out by little 
and little, so that our fathers finally had rest, 
and were beyond example increased and pros- 
pered, till they became a great and powerful 
nation ? What but the same wise, glorious and 
tender providence wrought so many wonders 
for their posterity down to the present gene- 
ration? The Omniscient God, who discerns 
alike all things past, present, and to come, looks 
through all second causes, and marks full well 
their connexions, their dependences, and their 
final results, manifestly had pointed out this 
goodly land to be the place of our nativity ; of 
our education ; of our active life ; of our em 
joyments and privileges for the present, — 
and, of our preparation and liopes for the 



13 

future. This, surely, may be inferred from the 
before mentioned acts of kindness to our fa- 
thers, which obviously appear to be the pri- 
mary links in the chain of providential opera- 
tions, by v^liich it has been eifected. 

But the time would fail to recount the innu- 
merable benefits, which have flowed down to 
us, in this incidental manner, and, which call 
for our serious consideration and improvement. 
in the nearer approaches of his providence, 
in the revolution of our country, and in the 
unexampled prosperity which has attended us 
subsequent to that trying period. Who but the 
Lord of Hosts, appearing on our side, when 
men rose up against us, — fought the battles of 
our country, — snatched her from the hand of 
the oppressor, — led her to the triumphs of 
independence, and established her in the full 
possession of civil and rehgious liberty ? Who 
raised up for her an able, -wise and viiliant 
Chieftain, that led her armies in the field, and 
guided her counsels in the cabinet ? By all who 
love virtue and good government the name of 
Washington will ever be respected and honor- 
ed. Who inspired Iier armies to hazard their 
lives and fortunes in her defence, and crowned 
their heroic virtues with the laurels of victory ? 
In these, and in all other respects, the Most 
lligh was our defence, and the rock of our 



14 

salvation. *• If it had not been the Lord who 
was on our side, when men rose up against us ; 
then they had sv/allowed us up quick, when 
their wrath was kindled against us : — Our help 
is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven 
and earth." 

These are a few of the innumerable mercies, 
which we have received, all which lay us un- 
der obligations to our divine Benefactor. These, 
however, are temporal, and, when compared 
with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, are inconsid- 
erable ! 

Call to mind then your christian privileges ; 
the means of grace ; Sabbaths ; Bibles ; Sanctu- 
aries ; and the treasures of heavenly happiness, 
which are opened for you. Jesus Christ, who 
is the door to all inestimable blessings, is yet 
on a treaty of peace and reconciliation ; con- 
tinues to us his glorious gospel ; enriches us 
with every needed ])enefit ; and gives ample 
facilities of being happy, when all temporal en- 
joyments shall vanish away ! 

On this occasion it is expected that some 
account be given of the settlement of this par- 
ticular part of the country, and of the establish- 
ment of the church of God in this town. 

The pilgrims, we are told,]iad not been more 
than two years at Plymouth before the settlement 
of Newliampshire Avas commenced, by a com- 



15 
pany for the purpose of trade. These began at 
Portsmouth and Dover. With such objects only 
in view, it cannot be thought strange, that no 
minister of the gospel was employed, and that 
no house for the publick worship of God was 
erected for many years. 

In 1633, ten years having elapsed, a house 
for worship was erected on Dover neck, — and 
Mr. Leverich engaged as a preacher. He was 
a man of excellent character, and yet, for want 
of support, soon left the people and was settled 
in the Plymouth colony. 

The church in Exeter is thought to be the 
first church that v/as established in this colony. 

John Wheelwright having purchased land of 
the Indians, and, being driven from Massachu- 
setts on account of the antimonian heresy, came 
to this town in 1638, with eight professing 
brethren organized into a church. Here he 
exercised his ministry till 1643, when he re- 
moved to Maine. After that, he settled at 
Hampton, colleague pastor with the Rev. Mr. 
Dalton, where he preached ten years, and then 
returned to England, his native country, — from 
whence he afterwards returned, and, having 
made peace with his brethren in Massachusetts, 
settled at Salisbury, — and died in 1680, the 
oldest minister in Massachusetts. He was a 
man of piety and talents, but was not respect- 
ed as he deserved. 



16 

The church in Hampton was gathered the 
same year. The church in Dover was organ- 
ized in 1639, but had unhappily a succession 
of ministers of a character, to say the least, by 
no means favorable to the christian ministry. 

Exeter was without a minister from 1643 to 
1650; seven years! The Rev. Samuel Dudley 
began his ministry in 1650, and died 1683, in the 
77th year of his age. He was son of Govern- 
or Dudley ; possessed good talents and learn- 
ing ; and was employed by the town as its a- 
gent to the General Court. Numerous are his 
descendants in this State. 

In half a century from the landing of the 
fathers of New-England, though seven minis- 
ters had been settled in Newhampshire, only 
two remained in the ministry, the Rev. Samuel 
Dudley of Exeter, and the Rev. Mr. Cotton of 
Hampton. After the decease of Mr. Dudley, 
the church in Exeter was without a minister 
for fifteen years ; when the Rev. John Clark 
began his ministry in the year 1698. By the 
council that ordained Mr. Clark, on the S 1st of 
September, the church was newly organized, 
consisting of twenty-five members ; sixteen 
males and nine females, all of whom with their 
pastor signed the covenant, and an orthodox 
confession of faith, on the Sabbath before the 
ordination. Mr. John Clark died 1705. The 



17 
Rev. John Odlin was ordained to the pastoral 
care of this church, on the isth of November, 
1706. He died in the year 1754, after forty- 
eight years ministry, the records of which I 
have not been able to find. His son Woodbridge 
OdUn, was ordained colleague pastor with his 
father, on the 38th of September, 1743. His 
honored father preached the sermon at the 
ordination, from CoUos. 1. S5. "Whereof I 
am made a minister, according to the dispensa- 
tion of God which is given to me for you, to 
to fulfil the word of God." 

This year a number separated from the com- 
munion, which caused much difficulty in the 
church,— many church meetings, and the con- 
vening of a council of ten churches, on the 
last Tuesday in January 1744. The Rev. 
Woodbridge Odlin, died March lOth, 1776, 
having baptized twelve hundred and seventy- 
six, and admitted to the communion of the 
church thirty-six members. Isaac Mansfield, 
was ordained October 9th, 1776, and removed 
by advice of council, September 1st, 1787. 
During his ministry, wliich continued almost 
eleven years, he baptized two hundred and 
forty-five, and admitted twelve to church com- 
munion. The present Pastor was ordained 
June Sd, 1790. The church was then in a 
very low state ; only fourteen members being 
3 



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